Yes, I too have heard that the 747-200 is less efficient in terms of utilizing fuel - not because of the engines (which are up to date and efficient) but rather because of aerodynamics.
Three things working in Baltia's favor: 1. Fuel prices are much lower than before. 2. Direct flight to St. Petersburg cuts back in many hours of flight (fuel usage) time, and 3. Soon after launching their revenue service, Baltia intends to start looking into the more efficient 747-400 model.
The biggest hurdle right now is passing the mini, and if the industry standard is 6 attempts, then why should anyone truly feel disappointed if Baltia has missed the first 4 attempts and is heading into attempt #5 next week?
For that matter, I have heard that starting a new airline could cost up to 100 million dollars, and that Baltia to date has raised about 96 million. Doesn't that also suggest that Baltia is right there in the ballpark?
In all honesty, I truly believe Baltia has the next mini "under control."
In other words, the problems they had in the past few minis (doors sticking, slides not deploying properly) appear to have been addressed (the doors have been carefully re-tweeked, and all 10 slides are all freshly re-packed and tested by the new and more reliable vendor in FL), and I anticipate that the next mini will be all about the performance of the crew - which, as we have heard, has been praised highly during the last few missed minis.
Maybe it is just me seeing the glass as half full (actually, I see the glass as over-flowing), but I believe this next mini will finally get the ball rolling.
Go Baltia!
Three things working in Baltia's favor: 1. Fuel prices are much lower than before. 2. Direct flight to St. Petersburg cuts back in many hours of flight (fuel usage) time, and 3. Soon after launching their revenue service, Baltia intends to start looking into the more efficient 747-400 model.
The biggest hurdle right now is passing the mini, and if the industry standard is 6 attempts, then why should anyone truly feel disappointed if Baltia has missed the first 4 attempts and is heading into attempt #5 next week?
For that matter, I have heard that starting a new airline could cost up to 100 million dollars, and that Baltia to date has raised about 96 million. Doesn't that also suggest that Baltia is right there in the ballpark?
In all honesty, I truly believe Baltia has the next mini "under control."
In other words, the problems they had in the past few minis (doors sticking, slides not deploying properly) appear to have been addressed (the doors have been carefully re-tweeked, and all 10 slides are all freshly re-packed and tested by the new and more reliable vendor in FL), and I anticipate that the next mini will be all about the performance of the crew - which, as we have heard, has been praised highly during the last few missed minis.
Maybe it is just me seeing the glass as half full (actually, I see the glass as over-flowing), but I believe this next mini will finally get the ball rolling.
Go Baltia!
